# Voter who wants plain explanations

NZ Election 2026 · Edition 8 · Voter situations · S22

I'm an eligible voter who finds political jargon difficult and hasn't voted before. I want clear explanations without being talked down to.

[Back to the study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8#situations)

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| questions written for them | 4 |
| answers collected | 12 |
| AI assistants | 3 |
| asked nationally | NZ |

## What this voter asked

### Question 115: Democratic institutions and rights

I'm an eligible voter who finds political jargon difficult and hasn't voted before. I want clear explanations without being talked down to. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Explain how voting works and why there are two votes using ordinary words.

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/80af50f5-19b8-4f72-a9ec-7a82d8303dbe.md)

### Question 116: Cost of living

I'm an eligible voter who finds political jargon difficult and hasn't voted before. I want clear explanations without being talked down to. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What do parties want to do about food and bills? Explain the differences simply.

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/977cd467-389b-4d79-86c2-10e4855b3c43.md)

### Question 117: Healthcare

I'm an eligible voter who finds political jargon difficult and hasn't voted before. I want clear explanations without being talked down to. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties differ on helping people see a doctor or get hospital treatment? Keep it clear and practical.

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/8a1ba6e5-7434-4737-86d8-5ebf920aab69.md)

### Question 118: Democratic institutions and rights

I'm an eligible voter who finds political jargon difficult and hasn't voted before. I want clear explanations without being talked down to. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. I don't know which party to choose. How can I compare them without you guessing what I believe?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/30c3f8df-b312-4168-9dbc-b53e8436f1b0.md)

## Which parties appeared in the answers

The figures count names in the 12 answers recorded for this situation. Naming a party does not mean recommending it.

| Party | Answers | Total |
| --- | --- | --- |
| National | 8 | 12 |
| Labour | 9 | 12 |
| Greens | 7 | 12 |
| ACT | 7 | 12 |
| NZ First | 6 | 12 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 5 | 12 |
| TOP | 2 | 12 |

## Party names across this voter’s topics

Compare the parties named in answers about this voter’s main concerns. The table compares 12 answers from each edition.

The coloured bars show whether statements about a party were positive, neutral, negative or mixed. Select a figure to read the extracts.

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Democratic institutions and rights | National | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | Labour | 3 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | Greens | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | ACT | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | NZ First | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | Te Pāti Māori | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | TOP | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cost of living | National | 3 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Labour | 3 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Greens | 3 | 3 | 4 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | ACT | 3 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | NZ First | 3 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | TOP | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Healthcare | National | 3 | 3 | 6 | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Healthcare | Labour | 3 | 3 | 11 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Healthcare | Greens | 2 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| Healthcare | ACT | 2 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| Healthcare | NZ First | 2 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Healthcare | Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Healthcare | TOP | 1 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |

## How Gemini’s answer changed

The plain-language answer used electorate examples and explained that a candidate who loses locally might still enter Parliament from a party list. It also demonstrated splitting votes between two parties.

These examples replaced some of the earlier abstract explanation. The answer offered to explain the 5% rule next rather than explaining it in the answer itself.

Gemini: “* **What it is:** This is a vote for a **political party** (e.g., Labour, National, Green, ACT, NZ First, etc.).”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/80af50f5-19b8-4f72-a9ec-7a82d8303dbe.md) · Answer ID: 397b73e7-6e10-4276-8a3a-19a551c2364b

Gemini: “* **What it is:** This is a vote for a **local person** to represent the specific geographic area (e.g., Epsom, Rongotai, Dunedin) where you live.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/80af50f5-19b8-4f72-a9ec-7a82d8303dbe.md) · Answer ID: fabb9841-f59c-4b48-880a-5c1ab29b86a1

## Websites cited in these answers

Compare the websites cited in answers for this voter situation. Choose a topic to see its sources.

### ChatGPT

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| elections.nz | 2 |
| labour.org.nz | 2 |
| vote.nz | 2 |
| consumer.org.nz | 1 |
| govt.nz | 1 |
| health.govt.nz | 1 |
| national.org.nz | 1 |
| nzmj.org.nz | 1 |
| policy.nz | 1 |
| retail.kiwi | 1 |

### Gemini

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| nzvotecheck.com | 2 |
| buildara.nz | 1 |
| ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz | 1 |
| dpmc.govt.nz | 1 |
| elections.nz | 1 |
| health.govt.nz | 1 |
| knowyourpart.nz | 1 |
| labour.org.nz | 1 |
| newstalkzb.co.nz | 1 |
| nzmj.org.nz | 1 |

### Google AI Mode

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| vote.nz | 2 |
| auckland.scoop.co.nz | 1 |
| elections.nz | 1 |
| facebook.com | 1 |
| health.govt.nz | 1 |
| healthnz.govt.nz | 1 |
| labour.org.nz | 1 |
| parliamentpulse.co.nz | 1 |
| policy.nz | 1 |
| stories.theconversation.com | 1 |

### AI Overviews

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |

Each website counts once per answer. The comparison covers 12 answers from each edition; 12 of this edition’s answers included citations. Other includes websites we have not yet classified.

[Previous: Migrant who has recently become a citizen](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/voters/s21)

[Next: Homeowner exposed to flooding and insurance pressure](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/voters/s23)